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About

I use the handle Jack, and I write this blog as a hobby. It reflects my interest in atheism and my commitment to improving the position of atheists in a world dominated by religious belief. If you would like to learn more about my personal journey to atheism, you can read my Journey of an Atheist series.

Origins

I started Atheist Revolution in early 2005 in response to what I perceived as a rising tide of anti-intellectualism and Christian extremism in the United States. I knew next to nothing about blogging but hoped that writing might help me to organize my thoughts and eventually provide something of value to others. I decided to focus primarily on the intersection of religion and politics (e.g., separation of church and state, political manipulation via religion, etc.).

I soon realized that I was contributing to something I didn't even know existed. Again and again, I heard from a growing base of readers that they found Atheist Revolution to be a valuable source of information relevant to atheists. They directed me toward the handful of other bloggers active in the niche at the time. I began reading every atheist blog I could find. Suddenly I was not alone. The reality-based community had a dynamic presence on the Internet. By 2006, I realized that I was part of something important - a growing secular community tired of remaining silent. Perhaps I could even help to make a difference.

Atheism, Politics, and Social Issues

After some initial struggle to sort out my goals and priorities, I settled on a mission for Atheist Revolution. The blog would be devoted to overcoming irrational belief and opposing Christian extremism. Atheism would be the primary focus, and secular activism would be a big part of this. Besides the lack of evidence to support religious assertions, I had two primary reasons for being an atheist that they were often reflected in my writing. The precursors of my atheism (e.g., reason, secular education, critical thinking, skepticism, etc.) deserved promotion every bit as much as religious belief warranted criticism.

However, I also recognized that I would not be satisfied writing about atheism all of the time. My interests extend to a variety of other political and social issues (e.g., freethought, free speech, civil rights). I couldn't be honest with readers unless I gave voice to my other values and interests in some way. I would focus on atheism but would not avoid other topics of interest.

Why "Atheist Revolution?"

The United States is caught in the grasp of widespread religious delusion and Christian privilege. Secular education, and science education in particular, suffer from the promotion of superstition and myth. Social norms discourage even mild criticism of religious belief, and nonbelievers are demonized. Anti-atheist bigotry is common and rarely brings rebuke.

We need a revolution of the mind, a new era of Enlightenment when the shackles of faith are thrown off and reason is once again valued. For me, it is not about eradicating religious belief but about showing people that it is unnecessary, irrational, and often destructive.

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I typically write 3-4 posts per week, and I have found that RSS is one of the best ways for keeping track of frequently updated material. I encourage you to subscribe via RSS.

For those wanting to learn more about atheism, take a look around the blog. In the sidebar, you'll see a section called "Recommended Reading," and this would be a good place to start.

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